The Rebels have been left to rue a second half collapse, as Brad Wilkin’s walking wounded were punished by Beauden Barrett’s Blues in Melbourne.
The home side led 17-13 after a courageous first half but conceded 41 unanswered points to lose 54-17.
It was a cliff dive of embarrassing proportion, but worse could still be to come if the Rebels forwards don’t recover from injury following next week’s bye-round.
Starting hooker Alex Mafi was forced off early with a hand injury, before his main lineout caller Trevor Hosea joined him shortly after with a knee-injury.
Making matters worse, recalled Wallabies rake Jordan Uelese, Mafi’s replacement, was helped off the field at half time after suffering a knee-injury himself.
And when Test prop Pone Fa’amausili was assisted from the field too, the Rebels could barely field a team as tight-head prop Sam Talakai threw into the lineout.
Jordan Uelese is assisted off the field against the Blues at AAMI Park, on April 08, 2023, in Melbourne. Photo Kelly Defina/Getty Images
The devastating tight-five injuries meant the Rebels would have little chance of keeping the threatening Blues at bay.
Eventually, having hung on for dear life in the opening half, the Rebels’ resistance broke and the tries came quick and fast.
With Barrett pulling the strings, the visitors scored seven unanswered tries in the second half. Only Barrett’s dodgy boot kept the score blowing out even further.
“It’s just a mindset shift,” Barrett said.
“I know there’s a few doubters around but I’m playing with a smile on my face, and that’s all that matters. We came over here to do a job and we did it.
“I just wanted to get back out here and enjoy my footy and the big boys gave me an opportunity to do that on the front foot at times. It wasn’t a perfect game, it never is, but it’s good to be smiling again.”
Barrett’s smiles were naturally not matched by the Rebels, who came into the match sniffing an upset.
With a building front-row, the Rebels had the power to match the Blues up front in the set-piece.
But the injuries to the quartet meant it was going to be an uphill battle in the second half.
“That second half really stings,” Wilkin said.
“We were in the game at half time, we were leading, and then came out in the second half and lost momentum.
“We had a few personnel changes and that brought a bit of disruption and we just didn’t react and we couldn’t recover from that.
“Losing your main lineout caller and two of your hookers throws a bit of a spanner in the works.
“We thought we were putting them under a bit of pressure with their exiting but we just weren’t able to maintain possession and that was the game really.
“We’ve got to be better at managing those challenges and adapting to the conditions and all those environmental factors. It’s a big learning experience for the group.”
Finlay Christie scores for the Blues at AAMI Park, on April 08, 2023 in Melbourne. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
The Rebels took an early three-nil lead after a penalty to Reece Hodge in the ninth minute.
But the home side’s inability to clear their own line well after scoring points hurt them, as Sam Darry scored to hit back for the visitors two minutes later.
After surviving a number of scares, as Barrett and winger Mark Telea stretched the home side brilliantly, it was the Rebels who scored next as Andrew Kellaway finished off a brilliant try.
It came after a stunning bit of play first phase from their own goal line, as Hodge turned the ball back on the inside to Carter Gordon who unleashed Lachie Anderson. The passage of paly ended soon after with Kellaway dummying and scoring out wide.
But once again the Blues punished the Rebels for their poor exit and Barrett added shaved off three points in the 29th minute.
Four minutes later Ricky Riccitelli scored out wide to give them the lead.
The Rebels somehow took a surprising first half lead when Uelese, hobbling on one leg, hit his target from the lineout and the Wilkin got on the end of a powerful maul.
But it was all one way traffic in the second half, as the Rebels struggled to take their few chances, including a baulked first lineout throw from Talakai, and failed to observe the wave of pressure from the Blues.
Barrett, who had copped plenty of criticism after not being able to lead the Blues to frustrating narrow losses to the Crusaders and Chiefs, said his side knew they would eventually break the Rebels’ backbone.
“We were pretty calm at half time because we knew that if we kept doing what we were doing, they’d crack,” he said.
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